Virtual Communities

Virtual communities, are they just a place where sad people go who don't have the confidence to go out into the real world? or are the real world socialisers completely missing out on this phenomenon?. Take first life for example
first life. The whole idea of this just baffles me to be honest. Is the idea of socialising not that it allows you to get out of the house and meet with real life human beings? Now I know technically the lovers of first life will counteract that you are actually meeting people, just not face to face. I personally want to be able to see the person I am talking to, I want to see their facial expressions when I'm talking to them. Not an icon of what someone has created themselves to be. In first life the person may have created themselves to be a six foot hunk with rugged good looks and a body to die for. When in reality they may be a five foot nothing, overweight and balding middle aged man. What happens if you really build up a good rapport with someone in first life and decide to meet up in reality. You may be totally expecting the man of your dreams thanks to the picture you have built up in your mind and then the reality of it all bursts your bubble completely. Yes I hear what your thinking , you think I'm completely shallow and that looks aren't everything. I firmly believe that for a relationship to work you have to actually fancy your partner. What is the point in having someone who "makes you laugh" if your too embarrassed to be seen in public with them?. Furthermore when I go out I want to go to an actual pub and feel the atmosphere of people enjoying themselves, I want to hear the beat of the music,I want to smell the beer and the vodka and see the animated faces of everybody I meet and talk to while we have a conversation. First life is definitely not for me. Whereas I understand something like the Harley Davidson on line community Harley Davidson. Now that is something I would be interested in, not specifically Harley Davidson's but something along the same lines. These are people who are truly interested in the subject. They are people who want to meet other people to discuss the thing they love the most. I agree it is a good way of finding out what's happening in the world of Harley when otherwise they may be not be able to contact other people about the same subject as there are not too many people who own a Harley in every locality.Speaking of which check out this cool video. I think listening to that video gives us a taste of what it would be like to own and drive a Harley. So to end my blog on virtual communities, the brand ones such as Harley Davidson and Bebo I totally get it, people all over the world meeting up and having a chat about something they love, all while getting out and doing normal things in real life. Socialising in Virtual pubs! it's just not for me.